With the release of Stranger Things Season 5, Netflix has officially concluded the hit series that started in 2019, closing the chapter on Hawkins, the Upside Down, and the characters fans have followed for nearly a decade.
But while the show has ended, the franchise continues across media, including comics, novels, and games, as well as a planned live-action spinoff and an animated series.
However, the Duffer Brothers have confirmed that the live-action project will not feature any of the main cast or reuse the characters audiences know. Similarly, the upcoming 3D animated series Tales From ’85, set between seasons 2 and 3, will feature Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and the rest of the gang, but with an entirely new cast of voice actors.
Though it's unlikely the franchise will ever call upon the live-action versions of those characters again, with the Duffer brothers having said in recent interviews that that chapter is closed, there may be a reason to recast them in another medium one day.
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A Stranger Things-themed land at Universal Studios, for example, would likely include character meet-and-greets as part of the immersive experience.
Guests walking through Hawkins or exploring the terrifying Upside Down version, or perhaps even enjoying a stunt show of some kind, would expect to see familiar faces, which would require new performers to portray iconic characters such as Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, Hopper, and many others.
In effect, theme park actors would bring the franchise’s iconic characters to life in a way that complements the ongoing spinoff projects.
There might not be any plans for Stranger Things at existing Universal Studios destinations, but the upcoming Universal Studios Great Britain, which has yet to confirm any attractions, could host a Stranger Things land and/or ride, combining roller coasters, walkthrough experiences, and interactive exhibits. For now, we'll just have to wait and see.
The resort is set to open in Bedfordshire in 2031.
Stranger Things seasons 1 — 5 are streaming on Netflix.
Would you like to see Stranger Things get an attraction and/or themed land at Universal Studios? Share your ideas with us in the comments down below!
